Lord Davies of Oldham: There are over 140 licensed aerodromes in the United Kingdom, and the information about their operating policies requested in a number of these questions is not collected or held by the Department for Transport. It is therefore not possible to give comprehensive information about UK airports' policies in response to these questions. However, some illustrative examples of practices at larger UK airports are given at the end of this answer.
	Ambient air quality is monitored in the vicinity of all larger airports in the UK. Continuous monitoring of a number of different pollutants, which are controlled though the UK air quality objectives, is carried out near airports either through the Defra monitoring network, by local authorities or by the airports themselves. The prime pollutants are nitrogen dioxide (NO) and particulate matter (PM10) though a number of other pollutants are monitored at different locations. Data acquired are used both for compliance monitoring against limit values and in support of modelling of pollutant concentrations. Monitors are sited at various locations that relate either to the main sources or to residential areas.
	Aircraft emissions are not identified separately from other sources in monitoring work though some sites will be exposed to higher levels of aircraft emissions whilst at others it will be roads that predominate. For modelling of airport area emissions, the aircraft source emissions, like other sources, will be calculated using inventory techniques related to technical and operational performance. Inevitably, this will be an approximation given the variation in numerous factors that affect the actual level of emissions for a particular movement.
	Moreover, it is not possible to ascribe a particular operational level of emissions to an individual aircraft. The Civil Aviation Bill does not, therefore, make provision for the establishment of emissions control schemes at airports.
	There are currently no penalty schemes in operation at UK airports for emissions, and no current statutory powers to airport operators to impose such penalties.
	Clause 1 of the Civil Aviation Bill would give airport operators clear powers to fix their charges by reference to aircraft emissions. BAA currently makes a charge, or offers a rebate, dependent upon the ascertained NOx emission of aircraft types using Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Given that some airport operators would like explicit clear powers to make such charges, it is not unexpected that there should be so few charging on this basis.
	Clauses 3 and 4 of the Civil Aviation Bill would give airport operators the power to levy financial penalties on the operators of aircraft which breach noise control requirements set by the Secretary of State (in the case of airports designated for the purposes of section 78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982) or the airport operator itself (for other airports). There is no current statutory basis for charging such penalties.
	At present a number of airports impose penalties for breach of their noise limits for departing aircraft, using their terms and conditions of use; some examples of these are given at the end of this Answer, along with details of the limits in question and the penalties imposed. The Government are aware of one airport—Stansted—that levies penalties for flagrant or persistent deviation from flight path as part of its terms and conditions of use.
	Noise and track-keeping systems are required to assess breaches of departure noise limits and deviation from noise preferential routes. These systems are potentially costly to install and run and it may therefore not be appropriate for smaller airports to impose noise controls that require this apparatus.
	There are a variety of ways in which airport operators may manage the noise impact of their operations, which should be selected and used in response to local circumstances. These may include curfews, restrictions on the number or type of aircraft permitted to fly at night, or overall limits on the number of aircraft movements at an airport; the Government also expect operators of larger airports voluntarily to offer noise insulation for residential and community buildings subject to certain levels of noise. The operation of noise penalty schemes needs to be seen in the context of these other measures.
	As noted above, the Government do not collect or hold information about the funds raised by airports that impose penalties for breach of their departure noise limits, or the purposes to which those funds are put. However, examples of such information are given at the end of this Answer.
	Nor does the Government collect information about how all penalty schemes are administered. However, it can be seen from the examples provided that a community trust fund is frequently established to administer grants, with local authorities and representatives of the airport's consultative committee generally included as trustees. It is also common practice for the consultative committee to be informed about the operation of the scheme. Those funds which are registered charities will receive independent regulation from the Charity Commission.
	The Secretary of State has set departure noise limits at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. These are 94dBA in daytime (0700-2300); 89dBA between 2300-2330 and 0600-0700; and 87dBA in the night quota period, 2330-0600. BAA, the operator of these three airports, charges aircraft operators £500 for an exceedance of the relevant noise limit, or £1,000 if the aircraft breaches the limit by 3dBA or more.
	The Secretary of State has also set noise preferential routes for aircraft departing from these airports. Each airport has a noise and track-keeping (NTK) system in place to monitor breaches of the departure noise limits and deviations from the noise preferential routes. As noted above, Stansted Airport imposes a surcharge of £500 for each flagrant failure to adhere to a noise preferential route.
	At Heathrow Airport, the BAA Heathrow noise fines fund has used the income generated from fines for breaching the departure noise limits to provide noise insulation for local schools and community halls; the fund is being reviewed, given that the needs of schools and other noise-sensitive buildings should be met by the airport's new community buildings noise insulation scheme.
	At Gatwick Airport, the Gatwick Airport Community Trust is a registered charity set up in 2001. The trust receives the money raised from fining for breaches of the departure noise limits, in addition to an annual donation of £100,000 per year (index-linked) until 2008 from BAA Gatwick. It grants money to projects that benefit the area around the airport, including environmental or conservation schemes and projects that benefit community life or improve community facilities. In 2004 the trust made grants for a wide range of purposes, including tree planting, play facilities in a rural community and music in residential homes.
	At Stansted Airport, until this year the consultative committee has advised the airport on the distribution of funds raised from noise and track-keeping infringements. The Stansted Airport Community Trust Fund, a registered charity, has now been set up to deal with this. The trust is also being funded through a donation of £100,000 per year from the Airport until 2012. The trust is managed by independent trustees representing local authorities in the area of the airport, and makes grants to projects that protect and enhance the social, economic and environmental well-being of the community.
	Manchester Airport sets departure noise limits of 92dBA/105PNdB in the day and 85dBA/98 PNdB at night (2300-0659). The minimum penalty for exceeding the limit is £500, and a further £150 is applied for each PNdB in excess of the noise limit.
	Manchester Airport has a NTK system to monitor aircraft noise, and has set up preferred noise routes to minimise the impact of noise from departing aircraft. It has lobbied for many years for the power to charge penalties for failure to observe these preferred noise route corridors. Clause 4 of the Bill will give operators of non-designated airports this power.
	The Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund is a registered charity set up by the airport. It has a board of trustees including representatives of the local authorities whose areas are eligible for grants from the fund (the "area of benefit"). It considers applications from not-for-profit groups that aim to improve the environment or social welfare within that area, and specifies that projects should be open to all and demonstrate wide, lasting benefit to all members of the community.
	Since the fund was set up in 1997 it has donated £1.7 million to over 500 projects. The airport donates £150,000 per year to the fund in addition to donating the money it levies for breaches of the departure noise limits.
	Birmingham International Airport sets departure noise limits of 92dBA in the day and 87dBA at night (2330-0600). The penalty for breaches of the daytime limit is £500 plus £150 for each full decibel over 92dBA; the penalty for night-time breaches is a surcharge of the full runway charge payable for that aircraft.
	The airport has set up noise preferential routes for departing aircraft and has an NTK system in place.
	Birmingham International Airport has set up a community trust fund. A registered charity, it receives £55,000 from the airport each year in addition to the penalties levied for breaches of its departure noise limits. The fund invests in projects that directly benefit areas affected by the airport, and are aimed at improving quality of life through heritage conservation, environment improvement and education, encouraging and protecting wildlife or social and leisure activities.
	It is operated by nine trustees who are nominees of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Birmingham City Council, the airport consultative committee and the airport company. Since the trust was launched in January 1998 around 250 grants totalling over £530,000 have been awarded to local community projects.
	Nottingham East Midlands Airport sets departure noise limits at night and fines operators of aircraft that breach those limits. It also has an NTK system in place and has noise preferential routes for departing aircraft.
	The Nottingham East Midlands Airport Community Fund was set up in April 2002 and has donated over £130,000 to community initiatives since then. This includes £79,550 raised through fining airlines for breaches of the night-time noise limits. The fund is administered by a committee including members of the airport's consultative committee and representatives of the airport.
	London Luton Airport sets departure noise limits of 94dBA in the day and 87dBA at night (2330-0600 Monday to Saturday, 2330-0700 Sunday). The penalties are a surcharge based on the combined landing and air navigation charges for the aircraft concerned. For a daytime breach this is 400 per cent of that combined charge; for night-time breaches the operator is charged a 300 per cent surcharge for a breach at 88-91dBA, a 500 per cent surcharge for a breach at 92-95dBA, and a 600 per cent surcharge for a breach of 95dBA and above.

Lord Warner: The data are not available in the exact format requested. We are unable to provide information on the units of alcohol consumed in the United Kingdom. We are able to provide estimated data on alcohol clearances in units per capita, for the UK. Alcohol clearances are the quantities of duty paid on alcoholic drinks released for consumption in the UK.
	We have also provided estimated data for weekly alcohol consumption for the years available (1990 and 2000), for Great Britain.
	The information available is presented in the following tables.
	
		United Kingdom alcohol clearances in units per capita, 1950–2001
		
			 Units 
			 Financial year Beer Wine Spirits Cider and Perry Total Alcohol 
			 1950–51 337 13 103 -- 452 
			 1960–61 344 22 109 -- 475 
			 1970–71 411 39 125 -- 575 
			 1980–81 465 103 176 20 764 
			 1990–91451 451 145 172 34 803 
			 2000–01 400 228 159 51 837 
		
	
	Notes:
	The figures for beer prior to 1993–94 have been adjusted to make them comparable with those of later years. The figures for cider were first collected in 1976–77. One unit of alcohol is defined as 10ml of pure alcohol. Population estimates are for all ages; that is, the UK population. Alcohol clearances are by financial year; ONS mid-year population estimates are by calendar year.
	Source:
	Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs clearances of pure alcohol; Office for National Statistics mid-year population estimates.
	
		Mean weekly alcohol consumption in units, 1990 and 2000 -- Persons aged 16 and over
		
			  Unweighted 1990 Weighted 2000 
			 Total 11 12 
			 Weighted base (000's) n/a 42,369 
			 Unweighted sample 17,521 14,081 
		
	
	Source:
	General Household Survey; Office for National Statistics
	Notes:
	The two tables provided are not comparable as they are derived from different data sources; one is based on the United Kingdom and the second is based on Great Britain. Data for England are not readily available.

Lord Triesman: Good governance is a fundamental part of the partnership between the Government and the Overseas Territories as set out in the 1999 White Paper Partnership for Progress and Prosperity—Britain and the Overseas Territories. There is continuous dialogue between the Government and representatives of Overseas Territories' governments across a wide range of issues in this field. The subject was on the agenda of the 2004 and 2005 annual Overseas Territories Consultative Councils (OTCC) which each year bring together Overseas Territories' Chief Ministers, or equivalents, and UK Government Ministers.
	The Government support good governance in the territories in a number of practical ways. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) funds a law enforcement adviser, a financial services adviser and a prisons adviser for the territories. An economist based in the FCO makes regular visits, particularly to the Caribbean Overseas Territories, to provide advice on financial matters. Other government departments, including the Department for International Development and Department for Transport, provide further specialist advice as required. The FCO has a Good Government Fund of £3.5million a year that is available to all the Overseas Territories.

Identity Cards

Identity Cards Bill: Scotland and Wales

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many times the United Kingdom Ambassador to Kazakhstan visited the capital, Astana, during the four weeks ending 4 December.

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the United Kingdom Ambassador to Kazakhstan last had a personal meeting with the president in Astana.

Lord Triesman: Our Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan is leaving the country on 16 December. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to arrange a final call on the president, not least due to the recent presidential elections. But we hope that soon after his arrival our new Ambassador will have the opportunity to present his credentials and meet the president.
	Understandably, individual meetings with the president do not take place often. However, since presenting his own credentials, the current ambassador has met the president on several occasions at receptions, conferences or when accompanying high-level visitors such as my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary in February 2004.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Officials' advice to Ministers on the widening of the M11 between Junctions 8 and 9 was policy advice within government and it would not be appropriate to place it in the Library. I have, however, arranged for the letter that an official from the department sent to the secretary to the panel for the examination in public of the East of England Regional Spatial Strategy on 14 November to be placed in the Library. The letter sets out the reasons why we decided that widening of the M11 between Junctions 8 and 9 should not be progressed within the next 10 to 15 years.

National Identity Register: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish— (a) any analysis they have made of the potential use that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office may make of the National Identity Register or identity cards introduced following enactment of the Identity Cards Bill; and (b) their estimate of the costs that will or may be incurred by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in connection with such use.

Lord Warner: In December last year, the noble Lord Jenkin of Roding contacted Ministers about access to papers on the treatment of haemophilia patients and blood safety dating back to the period when he was Secretary of State for the Department of Health and Social Security. Lord Jenkin has also been in touch with the chief executive and officials in the Department of Health.
	Lord Jenkin has received several letters from the department and met with the chief executive on 13 April 2005. In addition, he visited the department on two occasions to inspect files dating back to his period in office. A number of papers were released at his request. However, we acknowledged early on in Lord Jenkin's enquiries that a number of papers from the 1970s and 1980s have been destroyed in error.

Lord Warner: The NHS Litigation Authority was established on 20 November 1995 by the Secretary of State for Health to perform such functions in connection with the establishment of a scheme under Section 21 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (scheme for meeting liabilities of health bodies), and such other functions as the Secretary of State may direct the authority to perform on his behalf. Five schemes were established (the existing liabilities scheme, the ex-regional health authority scheme, the clinical negligence scheme for trusts, the liabilities for third parties scheme and the property expenses scheme) and the NHSLA were required to administer these schemes.
	The Government have not placed any duty upon the NHSLA to reduce the level of claims sought against the NHS for clinical negligence and performance of the authority is not assessed in this area. However, the NHSLA promotes good practice in the NHS by risk assessing all scheme members once every two years against a set of risk management targets. Trusts are incentivised in two ways: first, the level of risk management is assessed against three levels of attainment, achieving a discount of contributions into the clinical negligence scheme for trusts as attainment increases. Secondly, the risk management systems assist NHS scheme members to drive down the levels of incidents, which in turn reduces the levels of compensation claims.

Lord Warner: It is currently possible for some secondary care schemes to be taken forward by a local improvement finance trust (LIFT) company. However, it is for local health economies to determine their best procurement option for delivering new health care facilities. Their options could include LIFT, the private finance initiative or public capital with consideration given to achieving an optimum level of risk transfer and appropriate payment and performance mechanisms to deliver a value for money project.

Lord Rooker: Iceberg Watch was an internal Northern Ireland Office paper used as a means of looking forward and planning ahead. Such papers are not placed in the Library.

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Northern Ireland Office has not answered the following Questions tabled by the Lord Laird (a) 1 Question Awaiting Answer for 59 days (HL1738); (b) 2 Questions Awaiting Answer for 56 days [HL1745 and HL1746]; and (c) 1 Question Awaiting Answer for 54 days (HL1812); and
	What steps they have taken to reduce the time taken by the Northern Ireland Office to answer Questions for Written Answer.

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In relation to the Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill, what was the agreement with the Irish Government referred to by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr Peter Hain, on 23rd November (Official Report, House of Commons, col. 1535).

Lord Rooker: In May 2003, the Government issued a document entitled Proposals in Relation to On the Runs (OTRs). This document set out how the British Government planned to resolve the issue of "on the runs" identified at Weston Park. The document also says that the Irish Government would address similar cases in its jurisdiction. These proposals were published at the same time as the joint declaration following the talks at Hillsborough, but did not form a constituent part of that declaration.

Lord Rooker: DCAL's cultural policy allocation was established for the budget year 2004–05. I have included a table below which details the cultural policy allocation expenditure in 2004–05 and the spend to date for 2005–06. Copies of the business cases for each group funded will be placed in the Library of the House.
	
		
			 Group Date of funding Purpose of funding Amount funded  
			 Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland April 2004– March 2005 Costs of education officer and associated project costs £30,346  
			 British Deaf Association (NI) April 2004– March 2005 Pilot scheme of BSL tutor training £4,600  
			 Hands That Talk April 2004– March 2005 Provision of manuals CD ROMs and other learning materials, to assist NVQ Level 1 students of Irish sign language (ISL) £12,600  
			 Iomairt Cholm Chille April 2004–March 2005 Recurrent programme costs (previously funded by another programme) £180,000  
			 Different Drums April 2004– March 2005 Drumbase project £4,500  
			 Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland April 2005– March 2006 Education officer £10,516(Note: full fundingnot released to date)  
			 Different Drums April 2005– March 2006 Drumbase project £4,398  
			 Maiden City Festival April 2005– March 2006 Maiden City Festival August 2005 (previously funded by another programme) £50,000  
			 Belfast County Grand Orange Lodge April 2005– March 2006 Better Twelfth initiative consultant and art competition £17,365(Note: full funding notreleased to date)  
			 Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education April 2005– March 2006 Touring costs of "Darkie" play £4,000  
			 Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People April 2005– March 2006 Interpreting and communication costs for Sign Fair event £2,000(Note: full funding notreleased to date)  
			 British Deaf Association April 2005– March 2006 Pilot scheme of BSL tutor training £2,000  
			 Hands That Talk April 2005– March 2006 Printing of ISL dictionary £1,750(Note: full funding notreleased to date)  
			 Ulster-Scots Academy April 2005– March 2006 Ulster-Scots Academy £71,898(Note: full funding notreleased to date)  
			 Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission April 2005– March 2006 Irish Language Broadcast Fund £1,551,825(Note: full funding notreleased to date)  
			 Iomairt Cholm Chille April 2005– March 2006 Recurrent running costs (previously funded by another programme) £115,000(Note: full funding notreleased to date)

Lord Rooker: The Department for Social Development provided £125,197 to the West Belfast Festival from urban regeneration funds to part deliver the August fe[acute]ile.

Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, given the legal requirement on the pension protection fund (PPF) to consult extensively on its proposals, they will advise the PPF to publish its proposed 2006–07 levy estimates on or before 9 January 2006 to enable employers to respond to the next round of consultation, which is scheduled to close on 23 January 2006.

Pension Protection Fund: 2006–07 Levy

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The board of the Pension Protection Fund is required by legislation to consult widely on the pension protection levies. There has already been a 12-week consultation on initial proposals for the pension protection levies, which ran from July to October and in which opinion was sought from a wide variety of interested parties, including employers' organisations, pension fund trustees, lawyers, actuaries and other interested professionals. In October they published an interim report addressing several key concerns that had arisen during response to the consultation.
	Since then they have been considering the additional responses they received during the consultation. In a recent statement, the board announced that it will report on a revised set of proposals on 16 December and close the following consultation on these findings on 23 January. This gives a further five weeks for consultation on the pension protection levies proposals. Concerns raised by industry have been represented in the board's interim report and November statement and further details will be available in the December 16 publication.

Baroness Andrews: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 23 November 2005, Official Report, cols. WA 218–19.
	In addition, officials of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and of public bodies answerable to the Deputy Prime Minister can search and enter homes or business premises of United Kingdom citizens provided under the following statutory authorities:
	Fire Precautions Act 1971
	Her Majesty's Inspectors of Fire Services; Assistant Inspectors of Fire Services; and any other person duly appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose of enforcing the Fire Precautions Act 1971 and the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 have power of non-forcible entry in respect of premises owned but not occupied by the Crown.
	Housing Act 1996
	The Housing Corporation has a power of entry to a property owned by a registered social landlord under Sections 37 and 38 of the Housing Act 1996.
	The corporation's power exists only to enable a survey or examination to be undertaken where it appears that the registered social landlord may be failing to maintain or repair the property in accordance with housing management guidance issued by the corporation under Section 36 of that Act. The use of the power is subject to giving proper notice to the landlord and the tenant.
	Town and Country Planning Act 1990
	Under Section 196A of the Act the Secretary of State has powers to authorise any person to enter any land, at any reasonable hour, to determine whether a planning enforcement notice should be issued, if there are reasonable grounds for entering the land for that purpose. Twenty-four hours notice must be given to the occupier if the building entered is a dwelling house.
	If the First Secretary of State makes a compulsory purchase order under Section 228 of the Act (land for the public service etc), a person authorised by him may at any reasonable time enter the land for the purposes of surveying it or estimating its value in connection with any proposal to acquire that land. Section 228 also allows for any such person to enter land in connection with any claim for compensation in respect of any such acquisition under Section 324(6) of the Act.
	Under Section 324 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 a "duly authorised person" (authority must be in writing and from the Secretary of State) may enter any land for the purpose of surveying it in connection with (e.g.) a planning appeal. In the case of occupied land they have to give the occupier 24 hours notice of their intention to enter. There are equivalent provisions in Section 88 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and in Section 36 of the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990
	Section 324 makes provision for any person authorised in writing by the Secretary of State, at any reasonable time, to enter any land for the purpose of surveying it in connection with the preparation, revision, adoption or approval of a local development document under Part 2 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. It also makes provision for rights of entry where applications are made under Part 3 of the TCPA 1990.
	Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
	Two UDC planning orders confer on the corporations those functions of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 which are specified in Part 1 of Schedule 29 to the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 as are set out in the table in the schedule to this order (Article 4). These include (88) Rights of entry & (88A) Warrants to enter land.
	Under Section 88 of the Act, any person authorised in writing by the Secretary of State may at any reasonable time enter any land for the purposes of surveying any building on it in connection with a proposal to include the building on the list (compiled by the Secretary of State under Section 1 of this Act).
	It also makes provision for someone appointed in writing by the Secretary of State to enter any land in connection with a proposal under various sections of the Act, ascertaining whether any orders or notices have been complied with, ascertaining whether an offence has been committed and ascertaining whether any building is being maintained in a proper state of repair. In Greater London, English Heritage is empowered to enter for the same reasons.
	Compulsory Purchase Act 1965
	Under Section 11(1), where a compulsory purchase order has come into operation the First Secretary of State, once he has served a notice to treat, can enter and take possession of land having served a notice of entry which gives at least 14 days' notice. Section 11(2) and Schedule 3 allows for an alternative, but rarely used, procedure.
	Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981
	Where a general vesting declaration has been made under the Act, the land vests in the acquiring authority on the vesting date, who are then entitled to enter and take possession under Section 8 of the Act.
	Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993
	Under Section 163 any person duly authorised by English Partnerships can at any reasonable time enter any land for the purpose of surveying it, or estimating its value, in connection with any proposal to acquire that land or any other land, or any claim for compensation of any such acquisition. Evidence of authority of entry would have to be provided if so required and 28 days' notice on intended entry.
	Housing Act 1985
	Section 54 grants powers of entry to a person authorised by the Secretary of State for the purposes of survey and examination where necessary in order to determine whether the Secretary of State should exercise any powers under Part II of the Housing Act 1985 in respect of the premises (Provision of housing accommodation).
	Section 197 gives power of entry to a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purposes of survey and examination:
	where it appears to the authority that survey or examination is necessary in order to determine whether any powers under this part should be exercised in respect of the premises; or
	where a repair notice has been served in respect of the premises.
	Section 260 gives powers of entry to a person authorised by the Secretary of State for the purposes of survey and examination where necessary in order to determine whether the Secretary of State should exercise any powers under Part VIII of the Housing Act 1985 in respect of the premises (housing action areas).
	Section 319 gives powers of entry to a person authorised by the Secretary of State for the purposes of survey and examination where necessary in order to determine whether the Secretary of State should exercise any powers under Part IX of the Housing Act 1985 in respect of the premises (slum clearance).
	Section 600 gives powers of entry to a person authorised by the Secretary of State for the purposes of survey and examination where necessary in order to determine whether the Secretary of State should exercise any powers under Part XVII of the Housing Act 1985 in respect of the premises (compulsory purchase).
	Local Government and Housing Act 1989
	Section 97 gives powers of entry of premises to a person authorised by the Secretary of State for the purposes of survey or examination where necessary in order to determine whether the Secretary of State should exercise any powers under Part VII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (renewal areas).

Lord Warner: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given by my noble Friend the Minister of State at the Home Office on 23 November 2005 at cols. WA 218–19.
	For the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency:
	The Medicines Act 1968 regulates medicines on the United Kingdom market and makes provision for its enforcement. Section 108 of the Act places a statutory duty on Health Ministers to enforce the provisions of the Act in England. This function is undertaken by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. The Act confers specified powers, detailed in Sections 111 and 112, which include rights of entry. Section 111(1), specifically, deals with right of entry and allows duly authorised officers to enter any premises, in connection with suspected breaches, at any time. Section 111(5) additionally provides the authority of forced entry under magistrates warrant.
	For the Healthcare Commission:
	In respect of independent and voluntary healthcare establishments, the Care Standards Act 2000, Sections 31 and 32, provide a right to enter premises for persons authorised to do so by the Healthcare Commission. The right extends to the right to ask for information, inspect and take copies of documents, and/or interview people in connection with their enquiries.
	In respect of the National Health Service sector, the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003, Sections 66 and 67, provide a right of entry by persons authorised by the Healthcare Commission to any premises owned or operated by an NHS body, and any other premises used for any purpose connected with the provision of healthcare by or for such a body. The right extends to inspecting or copying any records, removing items, and/or interviewing persons.
	For the Commission for Social Care Inspection:
	Under Section 31(2) of the Care Standards Act 2000, the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) is given powers as the regulator of social care in England to enter and inspect premises:
	"(2) A person authorised by the registration authority may at any time enter and inspect premises which are used, or which he has reasonable cause to believe to be used, as an establishment or for the purposes of an agency."
	Therefore, CSCI may enter premises used in connection with registrable social care provision or which it reasonably believes is being so used which may be someone's home or business premises.
	As for the power to "search", by virtue of Section 32(1) of the Care Standards Act, CSCI is given powers of inspection which may or may not be regarded as akin to search in that it can, in specified circumstances, seize and remove material:
	"(1) A person authorised by virtue of Section 31 to enter and inspect any premises may seize and remove any document or other material or thing found there which he has reasonable grounds to believe may be evidence of a failure to comply with any condition or requirement imposed by or under this Part."

Lord Davies of Oldham: I refer the noble Lord to the answer given to him on 23 November by my noble friend the Minister of State at the Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal), (Official Report, 23 November 2005; col. WA 218).
	The position in respect of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and those public bodies answerable to the Secretary of State is set out below. For completeness I have also provided further information on the Football Licensing Authority and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
	DCMS
	Regulation 5(1) of the Return of Cultural Objects Regulations 1994 (S.I. 1994/501)—which were made under Section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972—provides that the Secretary of State may apply to a competent court for an order to authorise an officer of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to enter and search premises, where the court is satisfied: that there are reasonable grounds for believing that a cultural object has been unlawfully removed from the territory of a member state of the European Union and that the object in question is on the premises specified on the application to the court; and that admission to the premises has been refused, or that the case is one of urgency, or that an application for admission to the premises would defeat the object of the entry.
	English Heritage
	Sections 5, 6, 6A, 26, 40, 43 and 44 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, Section 36 of the National Heritage Act 1983 and Sections 88, 88A and 88B of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 contain powers for DCMS officials or English Heritage officials to enter land in England. Such entry would be in connection with other provisions of the Acts; for example, for a proposal to list or de-list a historic building, to ensure a scheduled ancient monument or historic building is properly maintained, or to record any matters of archaeological or historic interest that the land may contain.
	Gambling Commission
	Under existing legislation, Section 43 of the Gaming Act 1968 allows the Gambling Commission to appoint inspectors who are given powers to inspect premises in order to find out whether there has been a contravention of the 1968 Act or any regulations made under it.
	Under Part 15 of the Gambling Act 2005 (to be enacted under secondary legislation), enforcement officers appointed by the Gambling Commission will have the power to enter and inspect premises in a variety of situations. These are mainly concerned with enabling enforcement officers to check whether facilities for gambling are being provided in accordance with the Act (including where they suspect the commission of an offence); or for enabling them to inspect premises where an application has been made for the premises to be used in providing facilities for gambling. In relation to a dwelling, the power of entry under Part 15 can only be exercised where it is authorised by a warrant issued by a justice of the peace (or a sheriff in Scotland).
	Royal Parks
	Under the 1872 Parks Regulation Act, as amended by the 1926 Parks Regulation (Amendment) Act, Royal Parks Constabulary (RPC) police officers have the same powers of search and entry inside the royal parks as a police constable would have outside the parks. Policing in the royal parks is now carried out by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), who carry out the role jointly with the RPC until a date to be designated under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (which will not be before 1 April 2006). After the designated day, all policing will be carried out by the MPS and no officials of DCMS will have any powers of search and entry and no officials will have any powers of entry and search.
	Further information:
	Under the Football Spectators Act 1989, the Football Licensing Authority (FLA) has power of entry to football grounds at which designated football matches are played and a power to inspect both the grounds and their safety certificates. However, their inspection powers should not be equated to powers to "search"; rather they can best be described as "entry and inspection" powers. The FLA has never had to enforce its inspection powers.
	In addition to the information above, although the BBC is not answerable to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport because it is independent of government, the Secretary of State has responsibility for the broadcasting provisions of the Communications Act 2003.
	Section 366 of the Communications Act 2003 contains a power of entry for a person or persons authorised by the BBC, for the purposes of enforcing the television licensing requirements. The power is exercisable only with a warrant issued by a justice of the peace (or a sheriff in Scotland or a lay magistrate in Northern Ireland), who must be satisfied by information provided under oath that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting (i) that an offence of unlicensed installation or use of a television receiver has been or is being committed; (ii) that evidence related to such an offence is likely to be on premises or in any vehicle specified in the warrant; and (iii) that one or more of the conditions set out in subsection (3) are satisfied. These conditions are: that it is impracticable to communicate with any person who may grant entry; that it is impracticable to communicate with any person who may grant access to the evidence; that entry will not be granted unless a warrant is produced; or that the purpose of the search may be frustrated or seriously prejudiced unless carried out immediately on arrival at the premises or vehicle. A warrant is valid for one month after the day it is granted, and may grant powers to enter and search a specified set of premises or vehicle and to examine and test any television receiver found there. Persons acting under a warrant may use reasonable force in the exercise of these powers.

Lord Jopling: asked the Leader of the House:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Leader of the House of Commons, Mr Geoff Hoon, on 8 December (Official Report, Commons, 1471W) stating that Ministers have an obligation to Parliament to answer Written Questions within a working week of being tabled, whether this rule will be applied to Written Questions tabled in the House of Lords.

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What guidance or directions have been issued by the Secretary of State under section 8(3) of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 on which other regional bodies to consult when developing shared priorities.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Secretary of State has issued statutory guidance to England's Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in relation to the preparation of the regional economic strategies which set out a shared vision for the development of each region's economy. The statutory guidance highlights the importance of partnership working; and while it will be for each RDA to consider how best to foster and maintain regional and national partnership and co-operation in public, private, voluntary and community sectors, developing an approach which best suits the needs and characteristics of the region, consultation should include working with the regional assembly and other regional and sub-regional partners and stakeholders. This guidance has not been issued under Section 8(3) of the RDA Act since that section states that the Secretary of State may give a regional development agency for which there is no regional chamber such guidance and directions as he thinks fit for the purpose of securing that it carries out appropriate consultation in relation to the exercise of its functions and all English regions do have regional chambers or assemblies.

Lord Lea of Crondall: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of secondary schools do not provide educational facilities to students above the age of 16 years and therefore do not offer "A" level courses; and what target they have to reduce this percentage.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The available information is in the table.
	
		Great Britain, 2004–05, £ Millions, Estimated Outturn, -- Nominal Terms
		
			  ExpenditureDirected atChildren 
			 Retirement Pension—Basic 10 
			 Widow's/Bereavement Benefits—Basic 35 
			 Incapacity Benefit 37 
			 Carer's Allowance 32 
			 Severe Disablement Allowance 3 
			 Disability Living Allowance 841 
			 Vaccine Damage Payments 1 
			 Non-Contributory Christmas Bonus 3 
			 Social Fund 115 
			 Income Support/Minimum Income Guarantee/   Pension Credit 3,264 
			 Jobseeker's Allowance—Income Based 160 
		
	
	Source: The information has been taken from the DWP Expenditure Tables.
	Notes: Expenditure figures are for Great Britain. Expenditure has been rounded to the nearest million pounds. Figures are estimates of the amount of benefit paid to claimants in respect of their children. Average amounts of child elements or increases, and numbers of claimants in receipt of these (both of which are obtainable from the Department's administrative benefit system data), are used to arrive at an estimate of the proportion of total benefit spending directed at children. The exact method of calculating this varies from benefit to benefit. Departmental expenditure directed at children does not necessarily equate to actual spending on children by benefit recipients. Additional spending on children through child benefit and child tax credit is a matter for HM Revenue and Customs.
	All figures are consistent with the 2005 Pre-Budget Report, and with expenditure information which is published on the department's Internet website at the following address: www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure.asp. The Internet tables have been updated recently following the 2005 Pre-Budget Report.

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions they have had with (a) easyJet Limited, and (b) Ryanair Limited regarding the mechanism by which the British Airports Authority will finance the construction of a second runway at Stansted Airport; and whether they will place details of any such discussions in the Library of the House.

Lord Davies of Oldham: BAA's consultation on 9 December provided information on a number of environmental impacts and they will need to present a full environmental impact assessment to accompany any planning application for a new runway.
	This will be considered by the land-use planning system in the normal way. The Government have not assessed the environmental impacts of the construction and operation of BAA's preferred option for a second runway at Stansted.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What would be the cost in net of tax and benefits of paying a universal basic state pension at 70 from 2015, linked to the retail price index, for the years 2015; 2020 and 2030.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The information is in the table below.
	
		Table: costs net of tax and benefits of paying a universal basic state pension at 65 from 2020, linked to the retail prices index, for the years 2020; and 2030. -- Great Britain (£ billion, 2005–06 price terms)
		
			  2020 2030 
			 Net cost 3.6 3.1 
		
	
	It is assumed that a universal pension is introduced at age 65 from 2020 and that the rate of basic state pension is uprated in line with prices growth (plus underpin) from year to year.
	The Savings Credit Threshold is assumed to remain at its current level increasing in line with the BSP.
	Gross costs are estimated by the Government Actuary's Department and are consistent with the Pre-Budget Report 2005 assumptions.
	Savings in income-related benefit (IRBs) such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit, and potential increases in tax revenue, are estimated using the DWP policy simulation model and April 2006 benefit rates. Savings are assumed to be a constant proportion of the estimated gross cost over time.